When i go to backup out of my garage, My in-dash screen tells me OK! and Service! right under it. It says this 7 out of 10 times i start the car. Should it be something i should take it in for or not?

 

Not very familiar with the cluster LCD screen, they didn't have those in 97 lol. However, my guess would be that this is similar to the "1in1" message that i get in my odometer. (If this is not the case, someone please correct me) Its the Service Indicator Light. Basically and idiot light designed to tell you to take your car to the dealer and pay them too much money to change your oil. Think that might be it?

 

It could be that, maybe not necessarily the oil becuase i still have like 5,000 miles til its needed. I recently has a passenger side rear bulb go out, that could possibly trigger it?

 

How often do you change the oil?! Due to the known sludge issues this car can have I would suggest changing more like every 3k. I'm not a pro-mechanic but I'm sure some of the old timer here will back me up on this! And aas far as your OP have you tried the service light reset? http://www.audiworld.com/tech/elec107.shtml

 

It should be your service interval reminder. Pointless really, unless your following a regularly scheduled maintanace plan. They can be set to go off I believe every 5/8/10/12k miles, depending on what it is set to by vagcom. You can reset by:
Key Off press in and hold your trip odometer reset button on dash, while holding in turn key to on positive not run position but on position.
SERVICE will appear, now release that button and move your hand to the dash illumination button, press in and turn counter clockwise. Reset is complete. If this does not work try again and remember there has to be very little time between these steps. Good luck

 

damn I typed all that when there was already a diy, ha oh well

 

Thanks for the mini diy lol.

Will the service light come back on eventually if its still a problem with a part? or will this reset ignore whatever it is thats setting off the service light?

 

service shouldnt ever come on for a defective part, thats gonna be the Check engine light only.

 

service reminder light is just to say "hey you time to give me a colonoscopy". Just do the DIY every time you change the oil, the shop you take it to should do this for you, at least you pay for it.